On an evening when nothing went right for the Sox, the weather, Jon Lester struggled, throwing a million and 15 pitches (actually, it was only 114 (75 for strikes) Its just felt like a million and 15….and 114 pitches would be fine–if he went 7 innings, but, alas, he only went 5, giving up the 2 runs on 8 hits (including the 2 solo shots that were all the scoring the Marlins could manage) while walking none and striking out 4.

Rickey Nolasco’s line was more Jon Lester-like than Jon Lester’s was: 5 innings of 1 hit ball (which was the solo shot by Kevin Youkilis, which was all the scoring the Sox could manage) while walking none and striking out 5…

Pretty similar lines–I would have been interesting to see where this game went–although if it has continued, Jon Lester was not going much further than he had…

So, with the loss, the Sox remain in 1st place, 3 games ahead of the Skanks in the AL East…

Speaking of Skanks: Pedro Martinez will be throwing for 4 teams today during a workout in the Dominican Republic: The Rays, Angels, Cubs…and Skanks…But it doesn’t look like much will come of it, as, Pedro has set his price at $3 million for the rest of this year, and will not discount from that…and chances are, most teams are not going to sign a $3 million minor league contract…

So, Jonathan Papelbon did an interview this week, stating that he is willing to sign ANYWHERE, if he and the Sox cannot agree to a long-term deal–despite the fact that he is currently under contract until 2011: “Not only the Bronx, but anywhere, I think anywhere is a possibility. You always have to keep that in the back of your mind because you can’t just be one-sided and think that, ‘Oh I’m going to be in a Red Sox uniform my entire career.’ Because nowadays that is very, very rare. . . There’s no question I would love to stay in a Boston Red Sox uniform, but I have to do what’s best for me and play in an atmosphere where I’m wanted and play on a team where I’m wanted and that’s all I can really say about that, you know?” Hmmm… “Play for a team where I am wanted” Translation: “Whomever will pay me the most money is where I will go…” Mercenary much???

Coming up: The Dreaded Skanks of the NL–The Atlanta Braves. I have liked a number of players from the Braves over the years, (Glavine and Maddox, costars of the…greatest…commercial…ever… Smoltz, Chipper Jones, Etc…) But I can never get past the images of Jane freaking Fonda when she was married to Ted Turner, sitting in the stands doing that ridiculous Tomahawk Chop…UGH…Daisuke, whom no one but Terry Francona has the least amount of confidence in, gets the start in game 1 of this 3-game weekend series. He is opposed by Kenshin Kawakami for the Braves. 1st pitch: 7:10pm…

And if you check ahead to tomorrow’s game: Josh Beckett will face an old friend Derek Lowe, who holds a very similar record to Josh–should be a great game…